Health Tip: Wean Your Child From Breast-Feeding

(HealthDay News) -- When you feel the time is right to wean your baby from breast milk, the Nemours Foundation offers these suggestions to help make the process easier:

• Substitute a bottle or cup at nursing time. Slightly older children can have a healthy snack or a cup as a substitute.
• At the typical times that you''d nurse, schedule a special and fun activity instead.
• Don''t wear the same nursing clothes, and change rooms for the substitute activity.
• Schedule the weaning for a time when your baby isn''t dealing with other major changes, such as starting day care or teething.
• Don''t discourage your child if he or she begins a substitute habit -- such as sucking the thumb or carrying a stuffed animal. It''s just your child''s way of dealing with the change.

-- Diana Kohnle

Last Updated: Feb. 05, 2009

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